V2I10P54

Effectiveness of Mobile Phones in E-learning Among Under Graduate Students

Dr. C. Maria Ugin Joseph^1*

Abstract

This study looks into how effective mobile phones are for e-learning among undergraduate students in Zambia. As smartphones and mobile internet become more accessible, many students depend on these devices for their studies. This trend grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed education toward online learning. The research aims to see how students use mobile phones for learning, what challenges they encounter, and how this affects their academic performance. Using a survey method, data were gathered from 100 randomly selected undergraduate students through a structured questionnaire with 30 Likert-scale items. The analysis showed a high overall effectiveness score (mean = 113.32), indicating that mobile phones are essential tools for e-learning in Zambia’s higher education. The findings showed that, generally, there are no major differences between male and female students in most areas of mobile phone use, such as access, communication, and academic outcomes. However, males reported facing significantly more challenges with mobile learning. Similarly, students from rural and urban areas had similar views on access, communication, and performance. Yet, urban students found mobile phones easier to use, which points to differences in infrastructure. The study supports previous research that highlights how mobile technology boosts student engagement, collaboration, and access to learning resources. It also points out ongoing issues like high data costs, poor network coverage, and limited tech support, which mainly affect rural students. The results stress the need for targeted actions to tackle these challenges, such as improving infrastructure, offering digital literacy training, and creating policies to lower costs. Overall, the research confirms that mobile phones greatly aid e-learning in Zambia but highlights the need for strategic actions to close the gaps. Addressing gender-specific challenges and infrastructure issues can create a more inclusive and effective digital learning environment, ultimately improving higher education outcomes for a wide range of students.

Keywords:

E-learning, mobile phones, undergraduate students, effectiveness, Zambia